Report Outages
Outages - FAQs
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Power Restoration
What happens after a customer reports an outage?

Each outage report generates a work order, which is sent to our outage management system for analysis to determine the most likely cause of the outage. Orders are dispatched to troubleshooters, who go to the outage locations to assess the problem. If the troubleshooters cannot repair the problem, a line crew is called out to make repairs.

How does OG&E decide whose power to restore first?

Priority is given to facilities that are essential to the health and welfare of the community, like hospitals, police and fire departments. Then our crews focus on restoring power to the greatest number of customers in the safest and fastest way possible. They work their way down from there until all customers are back on.

Why do some customers have power and their neighbors don’t?

They could be on different circuits, transformers or fuses. Not all houses in a neighborhood are necessarily on the same service lines.

Does OG&E know which customers are without power?

Not necessarily. That’s why you should always report an outage by signing in to your oge.com account, by calling 800-522-6870, or by texting OUT to 32001 if you’re signed up for myOGEalerts. This helps us analyze the problem and restore power as quickly as possible.

How do I report my outage or a downed power line?

You can quickly report an outage on our free mobile app (available on iOS and Android), submit a report online, or text OUT to 32001 if you're signed up for myOGEalerts. You can also call 405-272-9595 (OKC) or 800-522-6870 (all other areas). Please call our emergency line at 405-272-9595 (OKC) or 800-522-6870 (all other areas) to report downed lines immediately. They may look harmless, but they could be deadly. Stay away from downed lines, and keep your children and pets away as well.

How does OG&E handle increased calls during major outages?

All customer service representatives are on-call during large outages of extended duration. Due to increased call volume during major storms, we also activate our automated answering system, which prompts customers to enter their telephone number or account number to report an outage. This reduces hold times and helps us quickly gather the information we need to restore power.

Why can’t OG&E always say how long it will take to restore power?

Many factors affect how quickly we can restore power. Weather conditions, accessibility to damaged areas, the time of day, safety and environmental issues all impact how quickly we can work. Following large storms, these and many other factors can affect the restoration process, which greatly complicates our ability to predict restoration times.

Why do I see OG&E vehicles leave my neighborhood without restoring service to the area?

To get the power back on following major outages, OG&E’s first responsibility is to clear and secure all known hazards like downed poles and energized lines that may have fallen across streets and roadways. So you may see our trucks out and about as our crews assess and clear damage to ensure everyone’s safety before the restoration process can begin. We kindly ask that you do not attempt to stop an OG&E vehicle or approach the crew to report an outage. It will only delay them in getting to their assigned work orders.

Who fixes service connections to my house if they are damaged?

The wire that runs from the utility pole to your house and the meter itself are OG&E’s responsibility. You own the cable that runs down the side of your house and the box that holds the meter, so repairs to these items are your responsibility. You can have an electrician repair any damage to the service cable running down the side of your house and the meter socket. This will help ensure your power can be restored quickly after a major storm.

What if someone in the home has special medical problems or is on life-sustaining medical equipment?

In an emergency situation, call 911. Always have a back-up plan, like a generator, family or friend’s house or a social service agency you can go to, in case the damage is so severe that it could take a while to repair.

How can I safely use a portable generator during an outage?

Improper use of portable generators can be dangerous and even deadly. Two primary hazards associated with portable generators are carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhaust and electrocution from connecting the generator to the home electrical wiring system. Observe the following safety tips when using a portable generator:

  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for proper use of a portable generator.
  • Operate the generator outdoors to avoid deadly fumes.
  • Plug appliances directly into the portable generator or have it properly attached to your home’s wiring by a qualified electrician.
  • Never connect a portable generator to your home’s main electrical panel or plug it into an electrical outlet.
  • Determine how many appliances are going to run at the same time, and select a generator based on the total wattage that will be used. A generator dealer or an electrician can help you select the correct size for your needs.
How do you handle tree limbs and other vegetation debris?

Part of our storm restoration work includes clearing tree limbs that are in or interfering with power lines. After the lines are cleared, vegetation crews will take tree and brush debris from the customer's yard to the curb. Customers are responsible for disposal of storm debris.

Common Problems
Why do my lights, computers and clocks blink sometimes?

“Blinks” are split-second interruptions in service that are a normal part of power delivery systems. While they may be annoying, they serve an important purpose. For example, when a tree limb falls on a wire, automatic sensing equipment detects a potentially dangerous condition and temporarily breaks the circuit for a split-second. This very brief break in the flow of electricity is essential to not only protecting your equipment but also to protecting parts of the electric delivery system from major damage and preventing outages.

What causes my lights to go dim unexpectedly?

The utility system is exposed to many types of undesirable electrical contacts: severe weather (lightning, ice and high winds), tree limbs, vehicle accidents and wildlife. These events can cause a ‘short-circuit’ on the system, which pulls the system voltage down slightly. Most of these voltage drops last only a fraction of a second, because automated equipment designed into the utility system quickly disconnects power on the circuit where the contact occurred. After a short delay, the circuit is automatically restored. The momentary dimming of the lights is a sign that the utility system responded to a problem, perhaps many miles away, and operated as designed. But if this condition persists for extended periods of time, you should report it to OG&E to ensure there is not a permanent type of problem on your electrical service.

What is “partial power”?

If you have power in one part of the house but not another, or if your 240 volt appliances (air conditioner, clothes washer, etc.) do not work but you still have some lighting, it is likely a ‘partial power’ condition. 

OG&E serves most residential customers with 120 volts on two separate wires in order to have 240 volts for heavy appliances such as air conditioning and clothes dryers. The two 120 volt circuits also serve different outlets in your home. The problem could be in your home’s electrical system, so first check to see if you have a tripped circuit breaker. If not, report the issue to OG&E. We will make sure that both lines of 120 volts are present at your meter.

Larger facilities use what is called ‘three-phase’ power. If any single phase experiences an outage, that would create a partial power condition for those facilities.

What are common causes of power outages?

In Oklahoma and Arkansas, the majority of power outages are related to severe weather. The top three threats are high winds, lightning and ice. Although we regularly prune trees in the easement, trees contribute to power outages when they are blown over and into power lines.  Trees outside the easement on private property can also fall onto service lines. Another frequent cause of local outages is wildlife. On some occasions equipment failure can contribute to outages, since a high percentage of the system is exposed to damage from lightning and ice.

What if a power line falls in my yard?

Downed power lines may look harmless, but they could be deadly. Keep children and pets away from downed power lines. Immediately call our emergency line at 800-522-6870 and report the problem.

Street Lights
How do I report a street light outage?

You can report street light outages online or by calling us at 405-272-9595 (Oklahoma City) or 800-522-6870 (all other areas).

What’s the difference between a street light and a security light?

A street light is typically located along a public street or highway. If the light is facing the street, it is more than likely a street light. Security lights are on residential properties. If the light is facing a home or located in a backyard, alleyway or parking lot, it is probably a security light or private lighting.

If the light that is out is actually a security light or private light, how do I report it to get it repaired?

Repairs for these lights should be reported by the property owner where the light is located. This can be reported by signing into their oge.com account, going to the Outage Center, selecting Report or Check Outage and there is then an option to choose a security light.  

What causes street lights to stop working?

Street lights need a lot of components to work together for the light to work properly. An outage may be due to a bulb, ballast, photocell, a blown fuse, or a fixture that has failed, or it may be due to something more complicated, such as a malfunctioned transformer or damaged underground or overhead wires that feed power to the lights.

How long does it take for streetlights to be repaired?

Streetlight repair times can vary depending upon the cause of the light outage and complexity of the repair. Some repairs are simple, while others require multiple trips to fix extensive damage or bring additional materials. Also, we are currently converting all of our lights to LED, which could extend the amount of time to repair streetlights. Providing accurate and detailed information when reporting a street light outage will help expedite the repair.

How do I know if someone has come to check on a street light that is not functioning properly?

You will be given a ticket number when you report a street light outage. If the outage is not repaired within 10 days, you can call Customer Service at 405-272-9741 (Oklahoma City) or 800-272-9741 (all other areas) to get an update on the status of the outage. Please be aware that we are currently in the process of converting all of our lights to LED, which will benefit all our customers. We ask for your patience during this conversion, as it could extend the amount of time that it takes to repair streetlights.

How do I know if the street light is out or simply not turned on?

New street lights are often the first pieces of equipment installed in a new development, but they are not always energized. For safety reasons, the equipment may not become energized until a later date. Also, new street lights on highways are typically commissioned to OG&E for maintenance after construction completion. If a street light in an established area (a place that isn’t new construction) isn’t operating after dark when all other lights in the area are on, the street light may be in need of repair.

How do I report my neighborhood’s need for additional street lights?

Your city determines the need for lighting within neighborhoods or on city streets. Please contact your local city staff to discuss additional lighting.